Flexible stay-bolt.



B. E. D. STAFFORD.

FLEXIBLE STAYBOLT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1914.

l, 1 1 9,652., Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

WITNESSES I v ZINVENTOR UNi'TED s A'r s l?ATENT OFFICE.

I BENJAMIN E; D. STAFFORD, OF"PITTSBUBGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR. TO

I FLANNERY BOLT COMPANY,*0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLEXIBLE STAY-BOLT.

Specification of Letters lEatent.

Application filediApril 1, 1914'. Serial No. 828,865

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN E. D. STAF- vented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Stay-Bolts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in flexible stay bolts. x V

The inspection of stay bolts within fixed periods is mandatory, and to inspect and test them the heads of the bolts must be exposed'for tapping and turning. With stay bolts now in use, the head of the bolt is mounted in a sleeve and is covered by a cap screwed to the sleeve. The pressure of the head of the bolt against the inside of the sleeve tends to bulge or expand the latter, thus causing the cap to stick to the sleeve. Again the formation of rust on the'threads connecting the cap and sleeve retards the removal of the cap, hence it is usually neces sary to loosen the cap by striking it with a hammer, which frequently results in fracture orinjury to the cap or sleeve. .Again whenthe cap is stuck fast, the eiforts'to unscrew it, result at times in looseningup the connection between the sleeve and the outer sheet of the boiler.

The object of the present, invention is to provide for the quick and ready inspection of the stay bolt proper without danger ofv injury to the parts in which the head 'of the boltis mounted, and it consists in the parts and combinations of parts as will be more fully explained and pointed out in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of my improvement. Fig; 2 is a view in plan of the same. Fig. 3 is a detached view of the ring, and Fig. 4: is a view of the cap.

1 represents the bolt preferably provided with a substantially spherical head 2 having a slot 3, for the engagement of a suitable driver. Secured to the outer sheet 4 of the boiler is a sleeve 5, threaded externally. This sleeve which is preferably drop forged or a malleable casting, has a bore or opening at its inner end of greater diameter than the body ofthe bolt 1, and is made flaring so as topermlt of a free lateral or rocking move-.

ment of the bolt within reasonablelimits.

This sleeve is designed to receive and house the, head of the bolt, and is provided 'internallywith a seat 6, formed in the arc of a circle concentric with the head 2 of the" bolt, against which said headrests, and WhlCh' permits of a universal movement of the head on its seatduring "the movements caused-by expansion and contraction of the boiler sheets to which the bolt isconnected. The bore or cavity in the sleeve 5, above or to-the outerside'of the seat 6 is of a size suflicient for the free entrance of the head of the bolt, and the sleeve is preferably provlded externally adjacent its outer end with Patented Dec. 1, 1914. 5

the hexagonal or otherwise angular portion'f 7 for thewrench'employed for attaching the sleeve to the boiler sheet. The sleeve 5 is provided at its outer end with two laterally pro ecting oppositely disposed flangesl'Z, at

right angles to the sleeve, each of said flanges being asegment of'a' circle, and are adapted to enter the slots 18 formed in the inwardly projecting lugs 19 integral with the ring 20. The ring is threaded internally for reception of the plug 8, which is provided in its outer face with an angular recess or with holes for a suitable driving tool'which is used'for screwing the plug'into and removing it from the ring.

, 21 is a disk shaped cap of a diameter to fit within and close the outer end of the sleeve 5 and form part of the housing'for the head'of the bolt. This cap 21 rests on the annular shoulder 22 formed within the sleeve, and is preferably provided with a concave inner face as shown so as to 1'0- vide for ample clearance of the bolthead.

This cap is also provided externally, adjacent its periphery with an outwardly projecting rib 23, within which the adjacent end of the plug 8 bears. The cap 21 when in" place, is approximately flush with the outer end of the sleeve, and is locked in place by the plug 8 carried by the ring 20. The ring 20 is attached or assembled, by passing its lugs 19 into the spaces between the two flanges 17 and partly turning the ring. This carries the slots 18 in the lugs 19, onto the flanges 17 of the sleeve and then by screwing in on the plug 8, the ring will be clamped to said flanges and the cap 21 forcibly held against its seat 22 in said sleeve.

surfaces of the flanges l7 and lugs 19 may be wedge shaped so that a turning movement of the ring 20 will lock the ring to the sleeve, aild instead of making the plug solid, it may be a ring or nut threaded externally and provided internally with means for the attiichment of a driver. To securethe parts in place, the cap 21 is applied to its seat, aihd the ring 20 with its plug in place, is then attached to the flanges 17 in the mannfer previously described, after which they are all looked to the sleeve by screwing in the plug until the latter is in engagement with the cap.

It 1s evident that changes in the construction andrelative arrangement of the several parts might be made without avoiding my invention and hence I would have it understood that I do, not restrict myself to the particularconstruction and arrangement of parts shown and described, except as required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

1. In flexible stay bolt construction, the

combination of a sleeve adapted for attachment to a boiler sheet and having a seat for the stay bolt head, a cap for closing the outer end of the sleeve, a member detachably secured to the outer end of the sleeve, and

adjustable means carried by said member and adapted to engage the cap for holding the latter on its seat.

2. In flexible stay bolt construction, the combination of a sleeve adapted for attachment to a boiler sheet and having a seat for the stay bolt. head, a cap for closing the outer end of the sleeve, a ring shaped member movably secured to the outer end of the sleeve, and an adjustable plug carried by said ring shaped member and adapted to hold the cap on its-seat. I

3. In flexible stay bolt construction, the

ca of this patent may be obtained for combination of a sleeve adapted for attachment to a boiler sheet and having a seat for the stay bolt head, a cap seated within and closing the outer end of the sleeve, a ring shaped member removably secured to the outer end of the sleeve, and a screw plug carried by said ring shaped member and adapted to be moved into contact with the outer face of'the cap for locking the same on its seat.

4. In flexible stay bolt construction, the

combination of a sleeve having a flange at its outer end, a removable ring adapted to engage said flange, a cap seated within the sleeve at the rear of the ring, and a plug carried by the ring and movable toward and away from the cap for locking the latter in place. i

5. In flexible stay boltconstruction, the combination of a sleeve adapted for attachment to a boiler sheet and having a seat for the stay bolt head, and provided at its outer end with outwardly projecting flanges, a cap for closing the outer end of the sleeve, a ring shaped member having lugs adapted to take under the flanges on the sleeve for connecting said member to the sleeve, and a movable plug carried by said ring shaped member and engaging the cap for locking the latter and also the ring shaped member to the sleeve.

6. In flexible stay bolt construction, the combination of a sleeve adapted for attachment to a boiler sheet and having aseat for a stay bolt head and provided at its outer end with outwardly projecting flanges, a cap for closing the outer end oi the sleeve, a ring shaped member having lugs to take under said flanges for connecting said member to, the sleeve, and an externally threaded plug screwed into the ring shaped member and engaging the cap for holding the latter onto its seat in the sleeve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN E. D. STAFFORD.

Witnesses:

EDWIN S. RYon,

HOWARD O. OAPPEL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. i 

